Nickelodeon (usually abbreviated as "Nick" but more commonly stated as "Nickelodeon" in commercials) is a children's and teenager's television channel operated by Nickelodeon UK, a joint venture between Viacom International Media Networks Europe and BSkyB. On 1 September 1993, a localised version of the US channel launched in the United Kingdom and later in Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the channel is available on Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk Plus TV and Freeview (UK) (via VuTV on channel 238). In Ireland, the channel is available on UPC Ireland, Magnet Networks and Sky Ireland.